MetricPetal, MSLaurel, MS
Population11,29417,679
Median Household Income$74,750$47,661
Median Rent$1,047/mo$909/mo
Median Home Value$174,900$125,800
Cost of Living (US = 100)88—
Renters Paying 30%+ of Income40%50.6%
Poverty Rate11.1%23.3%
Unemployment Rate3.6% (county)3.1% (county)
Violent Crime Rate /100k26757
Property Crime Rate /100k4982,960
Median AQI45—
Good AQI Days /yr226—
Summer Highs91°F92°F
Winter Lows40°F37°F
Snowfall1 in/yr0 in/yr
Avg Commute21.5 min16.4 min
Hospitals—1
Avg Hospital Rating—1.0 / 5
Students per Teacher13.314.9
College Degree Rate27.8%21.8%
Foreign-Born %3.4%4.2%
Population Growth (2020–2025)+5.8%-0.9%

Green = clearly better (more than 5% apart). Population, growth, weather, hospital count and foreign-born share aren’t scored.